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Thursday, January 17, 2013

Featherlite Family

Yesterday was slightly exhausting, but totally fabulous. I had a drawn out 10 hour day with the beasts which included four, 1 hour hauls that consisted of picking up a friend's horsey from the fancy horsey vet hospital, and then hauling another boarder and myself to a dressage lesson.

It's always good to bring a horse home from inpatient care and hauling out for a lesson of any sort is also cause to celebrate so it really was a day of high spirits. It was a very long, very cold day of high spirits.

All of the driving back and forth though did solidify how much I'm loving my rig. I love my truck and I love my trailer.

When I finally made it back from the barn, I was pontificating on my love for the rig over a glass of wine with The Boy and jokingly commenting that "you know, if we had a bigger trailer I could have saved a trip since the hospital is really only 10 minutes from where we took our lesson."

I was expected a scolding about not needing a new trailer, blah blah blah (I acknowledge that I do not need a new trailer) I was surprised when instead he just retorted:

"You know. I really like our rig too. I think we might be a Featherlite Family. When we do get a bigger trailer I'd want another Featherlite. Even if the Bison or whatever is $5k cheaper, at this point I'm impressed with our Featherlite and I'd rather give them another shot than hunt for the lowest price."

Not really an exciting statement for the casual observer but let me dissect his response.

You know. I really like our rig too. I think we might be a Featherlite Family
He has affection for our big horse box. AND he knows the brand name - and likes it!When we do get a bigger trailer I'd want another Featherlite.
When! He said WHEN. Not "if" but "when" we get a bigger trailer... I'm glad he knows where our 401k is going :)

Even if the Bison or whatever is $5k cheaper, at this point I'm
impressed with our Featherlite and I'd rather give them another shot
than hunt for the lowest price.
Bison! He knows two brand names! bonus points for him. And he can rationalize his perception of brand/quality over price? This man is meant to be married to a tack 'ho. It's really a match made in heaven.

Mind you, another trailer isn't in the works for quite some time (might have to sell a kidney first), but I do rest assured that he has similar brainwave patterns when we talk about fantasy trailers. I think it's his background driving big trailers and equipment that makes him so invested in our trailer choices. But really I don't care why - I just enjoy the fact that he is.

But I really do love my trailer. I feel safe handling horses in it, never pinched or trapped. The horses haul quietly and comfortably and I have more storage than I need. Plus it looks like a sexy beast with the new truck. And who doesn't like that??

Having a great, dependable, safe rig - that your horses like - is one of the best things ever. It's stressful hauling horses, and having to worry about equipment is definitely something you can do without!

New Kid

Windsor is a 2008 Selle Francais who we brought home in late 2015. Previously he was an approved stud and made the rounds (slowly) at 1.40m. With his chill brain and cute jump we're hoping he'll enjoy learning how to do the Hunters.

Windsor

Windsor

The Big Mare

Prairie is a 2005 Elite Hanoverian Mare (Londonderry/Weltmeyer). She's had two beautiful babies and early success in the Dressage Ring, followed by our foray into the Hunters. Now retired, she is back to making babies, first one scheduled for 2017!

Prairie

Gus!

Gus is a fan favorite. An older Trakhaner with DDFT injury that sidelined him from his H/J career, he is a noble gentleman who is worth his weight in gold. After some love, rehab and lots of kisses, Gus moved on to his forever home in MI where he has a beautiful farm to call home and a girl to shove him full of treats.

Pia

Pia is a 2003 Hungarian Warmblood who reintroduced me to horse ownership as an adult. We spent four years together exploring everything from Dressage, to Mountain Trail, to a false Wobbler's Diagnosis and beyond. She's a very clever mare and is currently learning how to event with her new mom.

Cliff Notes:

This blog started as a record of treatments, setbacks and general adventures with Pia, my little red mare back in 2010.

In late 2011, Prairie joined the team, with the idea of being the horse to get me back in the show ring. Initially I was pretty sure this would be the Dressage Ring, but both of us stumbled into Hunter Land and had a great time exploring a new discipline together, ultimately finding lots of success.

Gus showed up in early 2013. We adopted him hoping to find a suitable job and he has since found a forever home and girl of his on in MI!

Windsor is the current main man. a 2007 Selle Francais, he jumped around the 1.40m in Europe but was a little...slow. So now he's trying his hand at the Hunters and helping me learn how to move up.

About Me

These days I seem to spend most of my time working a little and playing a lot. I value my time with good friends spent in restaurants, bars, boutiques and everything else a decent sized city has to offer. I cherish knowing a city inside and out almost as much as I enjoy escaping it to someplace with no cars and hardly any people. Horses take up a chunk of time, as does coaching.. It's a good life.